The exegetical traditions as reflected in Targum Jonathan (TJ) may assist with the renewal and supplementation of the historical connection between the Second Temple period and the age of formative Judaism. In this, translation techniques play a decisive factor.
The aim of this research study is to seek to identify translation techniques used in TJ to the Prophets, and to systematically explore how these techniques were applied by the Targumist in his translation of the book of Malachi from the Hebrew into Aramaic. In this comparative study between the Masoretic text (MT) of the book Malachi and its rendering in TJ, translation techniques as identified by past researchers on other parts of TJ to the Prophets, are noted and applied to the context of TJ Malachi specific. In the same, the consistency of the Targumist’s application of these translation techniques in Malachi is investigated. The focus is also on enigmatic passages in MT Malachi as identified by modern scholars. The aim is to ascertain whether perspectives of the Targumist as translator and theologian can shed further light on how the MT of Malachi was propagated to be understood, either in distinction from modern scholarly, or similar. The argument is that ancient texts did not exist in isolation but always in relation or reaction to other texts/translations and it therefore may be taken that other texts/translations can supply additional insight into the understanding and interpretation of a source text.
It is shown that TJ discloses the hypothesis of its translators through deviations from the source text in the same tendency as other translations of the Hebrew Scriptures. Further, the literal style of TJ Malachi reveals the limits of the translator’s freedom, but through the use of explanations and expansions, targumic theology is revealed.
An attempt is made to categorise distinct translation techniques in TJ Malachi where the focus is on how the Targumist made use of them to interpret and resolve inherent incongruities in the MT. In the same, the study seeks to find a link between these and other obscurities surrounding TJ such as its stages of composition, dating, theology, dependency on other ancient witnesses of the Old Testament as well as its life-setting.